The A-to-Z of Yeovil's History

by Bob Osborn

Penn Way

Penn Way

An old track
across Wyndham
Hill

Penn Way, also
known as
Penneway,
was a track
across the lower
western slopes
of present
day
Wyndham Hill
which was
earlier known as
Kingston Penn,
Windmill Hill
and Victoria
Hill - it only
acquired its
present name in
the 1890s and
was named as
such for the
first time in
the 1891 census.

Penn Way commenced
close to the
Newton Road site
of the later Penstyle
Turnpike
gatehouse,
(today the site
of Ivel Court)
apparently as a
track for a
short distance
before
continuing as a
footpath, roughly
following along
the route of
today's Railway
Walk, to
Yeovil Bridge.

A lease dated 1
April 1654
between Sir
William Stourton
and John
Bullocke the
Elder of
Kingston juxta
Yeovil, butcher,
referred to
".... cottage
with garden in
Kingston at Penn
Way occupied by
Wm Forward,
Miller, Dec’d
and Daniel
Courtney.... ".

A lease dated 4
April 1673
between Sir
William Stourton
and John Cary of
Bridport, Gent,
refers to a
"Messuage or
dwelling house
called
The Sun
now used as a
common Inn with
a garden plot
within the Manor
of Kingston near
Yeovil at a
place called
Penn Way was in
occupation of
Elizabeth Cary,
widow Dec’d, now
of John Cary
held in
consideration of
the deaths of
William Forward
and John
Bullocke for 99
years on the
lives of John
Cary, Ruth Cary,
wife of John
Cary."

On his map of
1831 Watts noted
Penn Way as
"Foot Path to
Pen Mill &c" and
it is shown,
albeit un-named,
on Bidder's map
of 1843. The
1842 Tithe Map
shows that Penn
Way still
existed at that
time even though
the Sun Inn had
long since
disappeared.

Today there is
very little trace of Penn
Way, just a
shadow of the
footpath across
the field.

maps & Aerial Photograph

A section of the
1842 Tithe Map
showing Penn Way
running across
the centre of
the image.

This map is
based on the
1842 Tithe Map
with field names
chiefly added from the
1846 Tithe
Apportionment.

Hickes & Isaac's
map of 1858
clearly showing
Penn Way.

The line of the
footpath earlier
known as Penn
Way is still
discernible on
this modern
aerial
photograph.

Gallery

The footpath
section of Penn
Way is just seen
at centre,
running across
Wyndham Hill
towards Newton
Road.
Photographed
2016.

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themes

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